Switch for motor casing



July 11, 1939. H. w. BATCHELLER SWITCH FOR MOTOR CASING 2% iz fi/idzr Filed Sept. 18, 1936 Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED/STATES ATENT' orricn SWITCH FOR MOTOR CASING Hugh W. Batcheller, Newton, Mass, assignor to Standard Mfg. 00., Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and more particularly to small size snap switches.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch adapted to be mounted in an aperture in the casing of a motor such as'may be employed for driving a small fan or the like. It is a fur-, ther object of the invention to construct and arrange the parts of the switch in such a manner as to facilitate rapid assembly of the parts without the use of special tools. It is a further object of the invention to simplify the structure of the individual parts so as to minimize the cost of production. v I' Further advantageous features will be apparent from the description of the invention which follows and from the illustration thereof on the drawing of which Figure 1 is an exploded perspective View of a switch embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of an assembled switch.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a motor casing on which is mounted a switch similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

As shown in Figure 1, the switch includes a hollow box-shaped metal housing member I6 having in the end wall !2 thereof a circular aperture l4 through which projects the stem of a rotatable operating member it. The outer end of the stem is preferably in the form of a knurled fingerpiece or knob l 8 to facilitate rotation of the operating member. At the inner end of the member :6 is a radial flange 26 having a pair of diametrically opposed notches 22. The forward face of the flange 2 3 is provided with one or more lugs 24, four such lugs being employed on the structure illustrated. These lugs are adapted to enter simultaneously into a number of depressions 26 in the inner face of the end wall l2, such depressions being conveniently formed by denting the end wall i2 as indicated in Figure 1. The notches 22 in the flange 26 are adapted to receive end portions 36 of a bridging conductor 32 which extends diametrically across the inner end of the member it. These end portions 35 are bent up at right angles to the central portion of the conductor 32 and engage in the notches 22 so that the conductor 32 rotates with the member 56 when the latter is turned. The lugs 24 and the grooves 26 are so related to the conductor 32 and the contact points with which it engages that the member I6 is yieldingly retained in an on position or in an "off position. The lugs 24 are yieldingly pressed against the inner face of the end wall l2 by a spring 34 which is contained in a bore 36 in the inner end of the member Hi, the other end of the spring bearing against the conductor 32 and pressing it against a plate or shield 46 of insulating material which presents a plane surface toward the operating member.v This plate has a pair of apertures 42 therein through which are exposed elevated portions 44 of metal strips 46 which are mounted on an insulating base 50. This base is engaged by the rim of the housing member it to complete an enclosure within which the, working parts of the switch are contained. The margins of the base project beyond the sides of the member H]. In order to hold the parts in assembled relation, two of the side walls of the housing member I 6 are provided with ears 52 which project through narrow slots 54 in the base 50. The projecting end portions 56 of the ears 52 are then twisted, as shown in Figure 3, through a sufiicient angle to prevent retraction of these end portions through the slot 54. The insulating shield 46 is preferably long enough to extend beyond the slots 54 when the shield is in place against the forward face of the base 56. The ends of the shield 45 are notched as at 53 to receive the ears 52. Thus the ears serve to keep the shield 46 in its proper position with the openings 42 fitting over the elevated portions 44 of the conductors 46. In order to ensure good contact between the bridging conductor 32 and the exposed portions M of the conductors 46, a pair of small bulges 66 may be formed on the conductor 32 in such positions as to engage the exposed portions 4t when the switch is in the on position. When the switch is in the off position, the bulges or contact elements 66 ride on the face of the insulating shield 56.

The conducting strips 46 are easily and simply made from flat strip stock, one end portion of each strip being bent into hook form so as to engage over the side of the base 56 as at 62, this side of the base being notched, as indicated in Figures 1 and 3, to hold the strips 46 against lateral displacement from their correct position. The other end portions 64 of the strips 46 are bent at right angles to the central portion so as to fit in corresponding notches in the other side edge of the base 50. These end portions 64 of the conducting strips may be notched as at 66 or otherwise treated to facilitate connection with suitable wires from the motor or other electrical appliance with which the switch is to be used.

Figure 6 illustrates a small motor casing showcasing at certain points.

ing a switch mounted thereon. For this purpose, the motor casing is made in two cup-shaped halves, each half being notched as at 10 to fit a portion of the housing member ID. Within the casing is fixed a lining element 12, this element being slightly spaced from the inner wall of the The liner 12 is also notched to receive the housing member Hi. In

,order to hold the switch in place, two of the side walls of the housing member Ill may be provided with lugs 18 struck out therefrom. These lugs engage the outer face of the'1iner12 to support the switch against movement into thecasing. The inner face of the liner 12 is engaged by the end portions of the insulation sheet which,,

with the margins of the base 50, project beyond the sides of the housing member Ill and prevent outward movement of the switch. Thus the switch is firmly secured in place in the casingwhen assembled therewith.

The parts of the switch itself are readily assembled by thrusting the stem of the members l6 through the opening I4, inserting the spring 34 into the bore 36, pressing the conductor 32 against the outer end of the spring so that the end portions 30 will enter the notches 22 of the flange 26, and pressing the insulation sheet 40 and the base against the parts previously assembled so that the ears 52 project through the slots 54. The projecting end portions 56 of the ears 52 are then twisted by pliers or any other suitable tool, whereupon the switch is completely assembled. In order to mount the switch in a motor casing such as is illustrated in Figure 6, the slit may first be connected to the lead wires by soldering the lowing claim.

7 I claim:

In anelectric switch, a metal housing member having-an aperture and a plurality of depressions in its inner surface adjacent to said aperture, a base attached to said housing member, an operating member projecting through said aperture, said operating member having a flange within the housing and lugs on said flange arranged to enter said depressions, said operating member also having a bore in its inner end and notches in the edge of said flange, a plane insulating surface on said base opposed to said op- 'erating member, a pair of conducting elements having surface portions flush with said insulating surface and connectible into a circuit, a bridging conductor consisting of a strip of metal having its ends bent up to engage in said notches, and a compression springpwithin said bore pressing said lugs against said housing member and said bridging conductor against said plane surface.

HUGH W. BATCHELLER. 

